POM Juice Claims Barred by Federal Trade Commission
POM Wonderful, makers of POM pomegranate juice, found in grocery stores, health food stores, and restaurants, is barred from deceptive advertising that boasts unproven health benefits.
POM Wonderful, the company that makes POM pomegranate juice, claims in advertisements that its juice is proven to treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction. Those interested in good health and longevity were taken by the claims, the packaging and novelty of the ingredients.
Athletes and others hoping to cheat death by drinking POM should be wary, though, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which ruled last month that POM Wonderful can not make such health claims unless they are supported by two “well-controlled, human clinical trials.” It seems intuitively obvious that outside, objective blind studies should be done before advertising to the public health benefits of a food or nutrition product. However, only certain categories of consumer goods and drug products are covered by Federal law.
Herndon Athletes’ Lawyer Doug Landau applauds the Obama administration’s aggressive approach towards health claims by food makers. “Personally, I enjoy POM juice, and it is better for you than sodas, caffeinated energy drinks and alcoholic beverages, but health claims unsupported by science amount to deceptive advertising and warrant monitoring by the federal government,” says Doug.